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Monday, November 21, 2011

GIMP Tutorial: Easy Border Layer Masks Using GIMP

Making your own layer masks for borders/framing is fairly easy to accomplish using GIMP.

Meet Doug (I really like his cool hat). I found Doug's pictureherewhile looking for information on photo filters and PS actionscripts.

The image:

1. Open your image and establish a center guide on your image for your selection (you can use either rectangle or ellipse selections, doesn't matter)

2. Create a new layer, move it to the bottom, flood fill it with any color of your choice, or use a pattern or background image, the choice is yours.

3. Create a new transparent layer, move it to the top, change layer mode to screen so you can see the image layer under it, flood fill that layer with black. (We're creating the selection mask on this layer)

4. Create your selection, and center it on the top "mask" layer filled with black, flood fill the new selection with white. Select - None.

If you intend to comment to complain about being unable to perform certain steps with tutorials, please explain where you are in the step process and what step you are unable to get to work correctly, instead of saying something like, "I can't do this!". Your comments will help get tutorial corrections made and help give clarification to future viewers who may have trouble in the same locations. Thank you. :)